Latin American and Caribbean Countries Launch Initiative

Latin American and Caribbean Countries Launch Initiative

 EMBARGOED UNTIL DECEMBER 7, 2014, 11:30 AM UTC­5 (EST/PET) Contact:
Lauren Zelin, WRI, [email protected]; +1 (202) 729-7736
(Peru) James Anderson, WRI, [email protected]; +ADD PERU PHONE
(Colombia), Nathan Russell, CIAT, [email protected]
(Costa Rica), Juan Carlos Pena, CATIE, [email protected]
Aaron Reuben, IUCN, [email protected]
Latin American and Caribbean Countries Launch Initiative 20x20 to Restore 20 Million Hectares of Land Initiative 20x20 brings together national and regional commitments plus $365 million of private finance to restore forests and improve agricultural productivity in degraded land LIMA (December 7, 2014)—Today, Latin American and Caribbean countries launched Initiative
20x20, a country-led effort to bring 20 million hectares of degraded land into restoration by 2020. As part
of the initiative, five impact investors also announced plans to invest up to US$365 million of new financing
to support land restoration efforts in the region. Initiative 20x20, which will eventually help restore an area
larger than Uruguay, is supported by the World Resources Institute (WRI), International Center for Tropical
Agriculture (CIAT), Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE), and the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Through Initiative 20x20, countries and programs in the region will work with leading research
organizations and the private sector to restore functionality to degraded lands, resulting in carbon storage,
new reforestation, more productive agriculture, avoided deforestation and improved livelihoods. The 20
million hectares committed through Initiative 20x20 will not be fully restored by 2020 because it takes
many years for forests and agricultural areas to redevelop, but the restoration process will have begun by
2020.
Ambitions announced through Initiative 20x20 will also support the Bonn Challenge, a global
commitment to bring 150 million hectares of land into restoration by 2020. Today, Initiative 20x20
announced about 16 million hectares of written and verbal commitments for restoration from:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Mexico: 8.5 million hectares
Peru: 3.2 million hectares
Guatemala: 1.2 million hectares
Colombia: 1 million hectares
Ecuador: 0.5 million hectares
Costa Rica: 50,000 hectares
Regional Program “Bosques Modelo”: 1.6 million hectares
“Land restoration in the region is an essential element to promote equity, poverty reduction, alternatives for
development in poor rural areas as well as a mechanism for a low carbon, more resilient future,” said
Minister of Environment Gabriel Vallejo, Colombia.
The restoration activities of Initiative 20x20 will be partly supported through $365 million USD of
commitments from impact investors and bilateral and multilateral funders. Other financial instruments,
including a partial risk guarantee for restoration, are under design. So far, private sector investors have
indicated the intention to invest:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Althelia: $120 million in support of agroforestry and silvopastoral activities.
Moringa: $80 million in support of agroforestry and silvopastoral activities.
Permian Global: $100 million in support of reforestation and avoided deforestation in tropical
rainforest biomes.
Terra Bella: up to $60 million in non-timber forest projects and high-value low carbon and
climate resilient sustainably produced agricultural projects
Rare: about $5 million in the protection and recovery of cloud forest and riparian biomes
“Althelia is deploying capital in support of a portfolio of projects in the region to improve agricultural
practices, restore degraded lands, and reduce pressure on natural ecosystems, with concrete results in
emissions reductions, zero-net deforestation commodities, biodiversity, and livelihoods," said Christian
del Valle, CEO, Althelia Climate.
About half of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean are generated from
land use, land use change, and forestry. Of the 4.2 gigatons of GHGs emitted by Latin American and
Caribbean countries in 2012, 2.0 Gt were from land use and loss of forests. Reducing emissions from land
use change is key for the prospects of a low carbon development future.
“Agriculture and land use change together account for about half of the GHG emissions in Latin America and
the Caribbean. As the world prepares to deliver a binding climate agreement in Paris by 2015, restoration
will be absolutely essential for countries to hit their emissions targets, while also delivering huge benefits for
the rural poor. Through their leadership in Initiative 20x20, these countries will have a tremendous head
start,” said Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO, WRI.
Analysis by WRI and IUCN has identified over 200 million hectares of restoration opportunities in Latin
America and the Caribbean. Further analysis is underway to quantify the economic and climate benefits of
reaching the Initiative 20x20 restoration targets.
“CIAT has understood for a long time the pivotal linkage between agriculture and climate change. We are
committed to support initiative 20x20 as a cost effective approach to reduce GHG emissions while
promoting improved soil quality, nutrient retention and agricultural yields,” indicated Ruben Echevarria,
Director General, CIAT.
“Initiative 20x20 can be an important contribution to the global restoration goals outlined under the Bonn
Challenge and the New York Declaration on Forests,” added Grethel Aguilar, IUCN coordinator in Central
America,” added Grethel Aguilar, IUCN coordinator in Central America.
Through Initiative 20x20, countries and investors will work to restore forests on cleared land and improve
the productivity of “mosaic landscapes” through better use of trees in agriculture (agroforestry) and livestock
production (silvopasture). This restoration is expected to provide extensive economic, social, and
environmental benefits through improved local livelihoods, ecosystem services such as erosion prevention
and water purification, as well as carbon storage.
“The mosaic approach in Initiative 20x20 or what we call ‘climate smart territories’ will allow countries to
target improvements in rural incomes and food security as well as to protect natural forests and grasslands
so critical to our sustainable future,” said Jose Joaquin Campos, Director General, CATIE.
For more information, visit www.initiative20x20.com.
*****
The World Resources Institute is a global research organization that spans more than 50 countries,
with offices in the United States, China, India, Brazil, and more. Our more than 450 experts and staff work
closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action to sustain our natural resources—the foundation of
economic opportunity and human well-being. www.wri.org
CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture) headquartered in Colombia is a CGIAR
member institution whose mission is to reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human nutrition in
the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture.
CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) headquartered in Costa
Rica is an international land-grant type of university specialized in agriculture and natural resources that
combines education, research, outreach and field application of innovative solutions for sustainable
development.
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions
to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest
global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO Members and almost
11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices
and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. www.iucn.org
EMBARGADO HASTA EL 7 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2014 A LAS 11:30 AM UTC­5 (EST/PET) ContactOS:
Lauren Zelin, WRI, [email protected]; +1 (202) 729-7736
(Perú) James Anderson, WRI, [email protected]; +ADD PERU PHONE
(Colombia), Nathan Russell, CIAT, [email protected]
(Costa Rica), Juan Carlos Pena, CATIE, [email protected]
Aaron Reuben, IUCN, [email protected]
Países de Latinoamérica y el Caribe lanzan la Iniciativa 20x20 para restaurar 20 millones de hectáreas de tierra La Iniciativa 20x20 reúne compromisos nacionales y regionales y US$365 millones de financiamiento privado para restaurar y mejorar la productividad agrícola en tierras degradadas LIMA (7 de Diciembre, 2014)—El día de hoy, países de Latinoamérica y el Caribe lanzaron la Iniciativa
20x20, un esfuerzo liderado por los países, para llevar 20 millones de hectáreas de tierras degradadas a la
restauración antes para el 2020. Como parte de la iniciativa, cinco inversionistas de impacto también
anunciaron sus planes de invertir hasta US$365 millones de nuevo financiamiento para apoyar los esfuerzos
de restauración de tierras en la región. La Iniciativa 20x20, que eventualmente ayudará a restaurar una área
mayor a Uruguay, es apoyada por el World Resources Institute (WRI), el Centro Internacional para la
Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), el Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) y la
Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN).
A través de la Iniciativa 20x20, los países y programas en la región trabajarán con centros de investigación
líderes y el sector privado para restaurar la funcionalidad de las tierras degradadas, resultando en la captura
de carbono, nueva reforestación, agricultura más productiva, deforestación evitada y mejora de la fuente de
sustento. Las 20 millones de hectáreas no estarán restauradas por completo en el 2020 ya que lleva muchos
años para que los bosques y las áreas agrícolas se puedan recuperar; sin embargo, el proceso de restauración
habrá iniciado para el 2020.
LAs ambiciones anunciadas en la Iniciativa 20x20 también apoyarán al Reto de Bonn, un compromiso
global que lleva 150 millones de hectáreas de tierra a la restauración para el 2020. Hoy día, la Iniciativa
20x20 anunció cerca de 16 millones de hectáreas de compromisos de restauración escritos y verbales
provenientes de:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
México: 8.5 millones de hectáreas
Peru: 3.2 millones de hectáreas
Guatemala: 1.2 millón de hectáreas
Colombia: 1 millón de hectáreas
Ecuador: 0.5 millón de hectáreas
Costa Rica: 50,000 hectáreas
Programa Regional “Bosques Modelo”: 1.6 millones de hectáreas
“La restauración de tierra en la región es un elemento esencial para promover la equidad, reducción de
pobreza, alternativas para el desarrollo en comunidades rurales pobres y como un mecanismo para lograr un
futuro más resiliente y bajo en carbono,” dice el Ministro de Ambiente Gabriel Vallejo, Colombia.
Las actividades de restauración de la Iniciativa 20x20 serán apoyadas en parte por los US$365 millones
en compromisos de inversionistas de impacto y fondeadores bilaterales y multilaterales. Otros instrumentos
financieros - como la garantía parcial de riesgo para la restauración - están en la etapa de diseño. Hasta el
momento, los inversionistas del sector privado han indicado intenciones de inversión por:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Althelia: US$120 millones en apoyo a actividades agroforestales y de silvopastoreo.
Moringa: US$80 millones en apoyo a actividades agroforestales y de silvopastoreo.
Permian Global: US$100 millones en apoyo a actividades de reforestación y deforestación evitada
en biomas de selva tropical.
Terra Bella: hasta US$60 millones en proyectos no madereros y proyectos agrícolas sustentables
de alto valor con alta resiliencia climática y bajos en carbono.
Rare: cerca de US$5 million en protección y recuperación de selvas nubladas y riparias.
“Althelia está asignando capital en apoyo de un portafolio de proyectos en la región que mejore las prácticas
agrícolas, restaure tierras degradadas y reduzca la presión en los ecosistemas naturales, con claros efectos en
la reducción de emisiones, extracción de recursos con deforestación neta cero, biodiversidad y fuentes de
vida,” dijo Christian del Valle, CEO, Althelia Climate Fund.
Cerca de la mitad de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) en Latinoamérica y el Caribe se
generan por el uso de suelo, el cambio de uso de suelo y actividades forestales. De las 4.2 gigatoneladas de
GEI emitidas por los países en Latinoamérica y el Caribe, 2.0 Gt provinieron del uso de suelo y pérdida de
bosques. La reducción de emisiones provenientes del cambio de uso de suelo es clave para la consideración
del desarrollo bajo en carbono.
About half of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean are generated from
land use, land use change, and forestry. Of the 4.2 gigatons of GHGs emitted by Latin American and
Caribbean countries in 2012, 2.0 Gt were from land use and loss of forests. Reducing emissions from land
use change is key for the prospects of a low carbon development future.
“Agriculture and land use change together account for about half of the GHG emissions in Latin America and
the Caribbean. As the world prepares to deliver a binding climate agreement in Paris by 2015, restoration
will be absolutely essential for countries to hit their emissions targets, while also delivering huge benefits for
the rural poor. Through their leadership in Initiative 20x20, these countries will have a tremendous head
start,” said Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO, WRI.
Analysis by WRI and IUCN has identified over 200 million hectares of restoration opportunities in Latin
America and the Caribbean. Further analysis is underway to quantify the economic and climate benefits of
reaching the Initiative 20x20 restoration targets.
“CIAT has understood for a long time the pivotal linkage between agriculture and climate change. We are
committed to support initiative 20x20 as a cost effective approach to reduce GHG emissions while
promoting improved soil quality, nutrient retention and agricultural yields,” indicated Ruben Echevarria,
Director General, CIAT.
“Initiative 20x20 can be an important contribution to the global restoration goals outlined under the Bonn
Challenge and the New York Declaration on Forests,” added Grethel Aguilar, IUCN coordinator in Central
America,” added Grethel Aguilar, IUCN coordinator in Central America.
Through Initiative 20x20, countries and investors will work to restore forests on cleared land and improve
the productivity of “mosaic landscapes” through better use of trees in agriculture (agroforestry) and livestock
production (silvopasture). This restoration is expected to provide extensive economic, social, and
environmental benefits through improved local livelihoods, ecosystem services such as erosion prevention
and water purification, as well as carbon storage.
“The mosaic approach in Initiative 20x20 or what we call ‘climate smart territories’ will allow countries to
target improvements in rural incomes and food security as well as to protect natural forests and grasslands
so critical to our sustainable future,” said Jose Joaquin Campos, Director General, CATIE.
For more information, visit www.initiative20x20.com.
*****
The World Resources Institute is a global research organization that spans more than 50 countries,
with offices in the United States, China, India, Brazil, and more. Our more than 450 experts and staff work
closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action to sustain our natural resources—the foundation of
economic opportunity and human well-being. www.wri.org
CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture) headquartered in Colombia is a CGIAR
member institution whose mission is to reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human nutrition in
the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture.
CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) headquartered in Costa
Rica is an international land-grant type of university specialized in agriculture and natural resources that
combines education, research, outreach and field application of innovative solutions for sustainable
development.
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions
to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest
global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO Members and almost
11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices
and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. www.iucn.org